Mother testifies in Delaware waterboarding case

Feb. 7, 2014
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Morse, of Georgetown, Del., and his wife, Pauline Morse, were arrested Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, by Delaware State Police and charged with recklessly endangering their two daughters. / Delaware State Police via AP

by USA TODAY

by USA TODAY

GEORGETOWN, Del. (AP) - A Delaware woman whose longtime companion is accused of waterboarding her daughter by holding the child's head under a faucet says the couple used the term jokingly for hair washing.

Jurors on Friday also watched a video in which Pauline Morse told police the alleged waterboarding by Melvin Morse usually lasted less than a minute.

She also reiterated that she witnessed only one such incident.

Melvin Morse, a former pediatrician, is accused of endangerment and assault and could get more than 20 years in prison if convicted.

As she did a day earlier, Pauline Morse was forced to admit several contradictions in her testimony and statements given to authorities.

Melvin Morse, who has researched near-death experiences involving children, denies police claims that he may have been experimenting on the girl.

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